SOMETHING DIFFERENT

by Simon Farrier

Bored with running around on your Cyclemaster?
Want something a bit different? Try following the example of
Mr F Jones who, in the 1950s, built a model railway
locomotive powered by a 32cc Cyclemaster engine.

The frame was constructed out of 1/8th guage 1" angle braced by
2"×1/8" strip. The engine was suspended by its original
mountings on two lengths of 3/8" rod. A fuel tank was specially
made to carry one pint of petroil mixture, sufficient for over two
hours running. An exhaust system was scratch-built and had a
forward mounted expasion chamber and a silencer at the rear.

The chain final drive was via a system of shafts and sprockets made
from mild steel and running in plain bearings.

The wheel axles were also made of mild steel in plain bearings.

The trailing driving wheels were unsprung, the rest being sprung on
5/16" o.d. overhead coil springs.

The bodywork was knocked up by a friend from 20swg sheet steel and
headlamp rims. The wings on the front and the side strips were
made from brass. The model was painted claret, with a blue roof
and nameplates. It had much use throughout 1958, pulling several
hundred people, as many as six at a time. Such was its success
that Mr. Jones built a second powered unit of similar construction, to
make a twin engined machine.